We undertake fundamental and applied research to provide novel solutions to some of the most pressing environmental challenges, working both locally and internationally.

Our expertise includes:

• water
• public & environmental health
• soil contamination, restoration & remediation
• environmental assessment
• waste, energy & the circular economy
• international development
• natural hazards and climate change

Main areas of research

Environmental assessment

Elsa João, Richard Lord 

• strategic environmental assessment
• environmental assessment as a design tool
• enhancement
• climate change: perceptions of risk and uncertainty  

Public & environmental health

Tara Beattie, Ian Beverland, Charles Knapp, Tracy Morse

• public health
• air quality and human health
• public health in developing countries
• antimicrobial/antibiotic resistance

Soil contamination, restoration & remediation

Christine Switzer, Richard Lord, Bob Kalin, Charles Knapp, Joanna Renshaw  

• contaminated land
• smouldering remediation
• environmental microbiology
• soil amendments & restoration

Water

Dr Christopher White, Bob Kalin, Vernon Phoenix, Charles Knapp, Doug Bertram

• integrated water resource management
• water resources engineering (hydrogeology and surface water hydrology)
• water infrastructure and energy systems
• water policy (trans-boundary aquifers)
• water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH)
• quantifying and controlling pollution transport in the subsurface
• remediation of contaminated groundwaters
• sustainable urban drainage systems
• wastewater treatment
• floods, droughts and climate change

Natural hazards & climate change

Dr Christopher White

• natural hazards
• climate change impacts to the built environment
• prediction of extreme weather events
• compound events
• multi-hazard risk management

Waste, energy & the circular economy

Elsa João, Richard Lord, Charles Knapp, Bob Kalin, Vernon Phoenix

• triple helix and sustainable development
• the Circular Economy and the role of networks of innovation
• reuse of organic wastes in the Circular Biobased Economy
• recycling of soils, sediments and inorganic solid wastes
• reuse of brownfields, former landfills and contaminated land for renewable energy
• characterisation, treatment and recovery of hazardous wastes, especially contaminated soils
• waste management in developing countries

International development

Our international development work focuses on sustainable development, groundwater resource management, water sanitation & hygiene and public health.

Our global reach includes a particular focus on Malawi.